Mauritania Issues Ban on Small Scale Fishing for Two Months

Mauritania has closed its waters to small-scale, coastal and industrial fishing from 1st September to 31st October, APA learned in Nouakchott. This restriction will henceforth also cover 1st April to 31st May of each year with an aim of favoring the renewal and safeguarding of the Mauritanian water resources.

The National Institute of Oceanographical and Fishing Researches (INROP) of Nouadhibou recommended this decision.

However, the decision enables trawlers and long-lining to fish for black hake (category 2), and fishing vessels to use other machines than the trawler to fish demersal species other than black hake (category 3).

Fishing for categories 2 and 3 is allowed from the south of Cape Timiris, near Nouadhibou, up to Nouakchott during this two-month period.

Mauritania signed fishing agreements with the European Union covering the period from 1 August to 31 July 2012. But these agreements might be compromised following the recent coup d’etat in the country, which Brussels denounced.

Under these agreements, the EU will pay Mauritania €86 million for 2008 – 2009 as the first installment of the financial compensation.

Source African Press Agency

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